Bicycle-lamp.



K L. c. Johnson.

BICYCLE LAMP.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFCE.

LOUIS C. JOHNSON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA;

BICYCLE-LAMP.

SPECIFIeATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,639, dated oetobeeo, 19oo. Application filed July 26, 1899. Serial No. 725,210. (Nomodel.)

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS C. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle-Lamps; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

The object is to provide a lantern, such as a bicycle-lantern, withdraft mechanism of such construction and operating in such manner thatthe combustion-chamber will be thoroughly freed from smoke when burningoils and one in which the draft passing through the top cannot bedeflected downward into the dame or come in contact with thecountercurrents from without; furthermore, to effect a saving in oil byburning only the minimum when the lautern is at restor when the machineto which it is attached is not running.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figurel is a view in side elevation of a bicycle-lamp equipped with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a View in plan displaying the top of the lamp. Fig.3 is a sectional detail View of a modified form of forced-draft ue. Fig.

et is a detached detail View of a screen that may be employed, ifdesired, in connection with the draft-flue. Fig. 5 is a detail view inperspective of a delector that may be employed in connection with thedraft-flue. Fig. 6 is a View in transverse section, taken on the line 66, Fig. l.

The invention consists in providing means whereby a current of air isforced directly through the top of the lantern from front to rear. Thisis effected by two Iiues or tubes A and B, which telescope in theinterior of the lantern-top, the front or forced-draft Hue A beingsmaller in diameter than the rear or induced-draft ue B and extendinginto the latter part way of its length, thereby allowing air-spacebetween lthe telescoping sections of sufficient size readily andeffectively to .ert an exhausting action on the air in thecombustion-chamber, causing fresh external air to be drawn into thechamber through the regular draft-openings at its bottom to a degreedirectly proportionate to the exhaust, thereby feeding oxygen rapidly tothe flame, and thus augmenting its lighting power. When the machine isat rest, the rapid supply of fresh air ceases, resulting in a diminutionof the power of the llame and colise- 4quent saving in oil.

In order that the combustion-chamber may be cleared of the unconsumedproducts of combustion when the lantern is idle, and thus obviate anyaccumulation of carbon or lampblack, I provide the top of the lanternwith a plurality of escape-openings C, which may be closed by theimperforate portions of a disk D, suitably secured to the lantern-top.

The disk may be provided either with openings adapted to be brought intoregister with those of the lantern-top or with semicircular slots d of alength when moved to the proper position to free all the openings in thetop. When the lantern is at rest, the disk will be moved to position tofree enough of the openings to allow a sufficient draft through thecombustion-chamber to supply requisite oxygen for perfect combustion andmay so remain when in motion. Y

In addition to the function stated the disk D and slots d and openings Osubserve a further and most important one-namely that of adapting thelantern to burn oils of different bodies. Thus for a light-bodied oil,such as a high grade of kerosene-oil, it will only be necessary to have,say, four of. the openings free, and the lamp will burn with uniformityand brilliancy; butif a heavy-bodied oil, such as lard-oil, be used allof the openings will have to be free.

The front tube may be provided with aflaring mouthpiece d, whichoperates to gather the wind and direct it through the tubes, this mouth,if desired, being `partially closed or rendered less powerful as anintake` by a screen a2, removably fitted to the mouthpiece a, whichscreen will act as a damper to check 2 ceo,

the passage of air through the front tube.- The rear tube may beprovided with a deliecting-plate to obviate the entrance of moisturefrom without and also to prevent too great back draft, the deflectorcomprising a tubular portion b, adapted to fit over the tube B andcarrying a plate b2, arranged at an angle to the tube B.

Any suitable means may be employed to separate the telescopic tubes Aand B, as a cone-shaped collar CL3, mounted on the tube A and providedwith arms t4 to iit within the tubeB,whereby ready adjustment of theparts may be effected. The cone-shaped collar a3 also operates tocontrol the outtake from the combustion-chamber into the tube B, as bymoving the collar to and from the tube B the amount of air escaping fromthe combustionchamber may readily be controlled.

As shown in Fig. l, the inner end of the tube A is constricted, thus toconstitute, in connection with the tube B, an injector, and in Fig. 3this tube is shown as bottle-necked for the same purpose. The mouthpiecea may be screw-threaded or otherwise connected with the tube A, and thetube B may be similarly held in place Within the lantern-body or may beprovided with a flange or bead b3 to engage the inner wall of thelantern and with an extension b4, screw-threaded onto the outerextremity of the tube B, as shown in Fig. l, whereby to clamp this tubesecurely in place, the tube A being similarly held in place by a flangewithin the lantern-body.

In order to prevent the uptake from the combustion-chamber from causinga flickering or undue pull on the flame, I arrange in the upper portionof the lantern a draft-regulator E, which in this instance is shown as aconcave plate provided With a central opening which may be covered, by ascreen e.

In bicycle-lamps as heretofore constructed it has been necessary toemploy large free openings in the body of the lantern-body for theingress of air to support combustion; but by employing my improved top,as described, these bottom openings may be rendered less potent asdraft-supporters by covering them With a fine-wire screen, and as aconsequence the flickering of the flame is avoided and a steady andconstant light is afforded. The openings thus screened are amplysufficient to supply all the air necessary to support combustion, thethrough or induced draft at the top operating to cause a constantupdraft or suction from the bottom of the lamp upward, so that under theaction of violent shocks or jars, which would with lamps of the ordinaryconstruction tend to cause their extinguishment, the updraft referred tocauses the flame to burn freely and constantly under all conditions whenthe wheel is in motion. In other Words, the updraft iin thecombustion-chamber being practically the same whether the lamp is onlyslightly vibrated or is violently shaken jars or shocks will not affectits burning qualities, nor will they result in its extinguishment.

While I have described my invention as being peculiarly applicable tobicycle-lamps,it is to be understood that it may be used in connectionwith any form of lamp or lantern.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a lantern, the combination, with a casing, of a draft-inducingdevice comprising a forced-draft iiue and an induced-draft flueprojecting through the casing at opposite sides, the inner end of theforced-draft flue extending into the inner end of the induced'-immediately above and in vertical line with the Hame of the lamp, thedevice causing a cross-draft from the front to the rear of thecombustion-chamber and at right angles to the updraft, and operating, bysuction, to augment the updraft while the lamp is in active use.

2. In a lantern, the combination, with the combustion-chamber, of aforced-draft flue extending outward beyond the front of the lantern, aninduced-draft flue inclosing the inner end of the forced-draft ue andextending outward beyond the rear of the lantern, and means,substantially as specified, coacting with the two flues whereby tocontrol the outtake from the combustion-chamber.

3. In a lantern, a top provided with openings and a disk adapted eitherto cover or to free the openings, a draft-regulator arranged below thelantern-top and provided with a screened escape opening, in combinationwith a forced-draft Hue extending outward beyond the front of' thelantern, and an induced-draft iiue of greater diameter than andinclosing the inner end of the forced-draft iiue and extending outwardbeyond the rear of the lantern. l

4f. In a lantern, the combination with the combustion-chamber, of aforced-draft flue extending outward beyond the front of the lantern, amouthpiece arranged on the outer end ot' the flue and adapted to carry ascreen, an induced-draft flue inclosing theinner end of the forced-draftilue and extending beyond the rear of the lantern, and a deflect-orplatecarried by the projecting end of the latter flue.

5. In a lantern, the combination, with the combustion-chamber, of aforced-draft flue projecting beyond the front of the lantern, aninduced-draft flue inclosing the inner end lof the forced-draft flue andextending out- Ward beyond the rear of the lantern, and an adjustablecollar carried by the forced-draft flue for controlling th e passage ofair from the combustion-chamber between the two flues. 6. In a lantern,atop provided with openings, and a disk adapted to cove-r or to free theopenings, a draft-regulator arranged below the vlantern-top and providedwith an esdraft flue, and the two flues being located` IOO IIO

cape-opening, in combination with a forcedcombustion-chamber between thetwo lies, io draft ue extending outward beyond the front substantiallyas and for thepurpose specified.

of the lantern and carrying a mouthpiece, In testimony whereof I affixmy signature and an induced-draft Hue of greater diamein presence of twowitnesses.

5 ier than and inclosing the inner end of the forced-draft Hue andextending outward be- LOUIS C' JOHNSON yond the rear of the lantern, andan adj ust- Witnesses: able collar carried by the forced-draft flueROBINSON WHITE for controlling the passage of air from the R. M.ELLIOTT.

